TL;DR
What's the best free alternative to Adobe Premiere?
DaVinci Resolve is the cheapest serious swap: it has a full free version for professional editing, color grading and audio. If you outgrow it, DaVinci Resolve Studio is a one-time purchase, currently US$236 on sale (was US$295), with no subscription. CapCut has a free editor for quick social clips, and Descript has a free plan for editing video by editing the transcript. Adobe Premiere is US$22.99/month on an annual plan billed monthly. Prices are US$ before tax, price checked Oct 25, 2026.
What Adobe Premiere costs right now
Adobe Premiere is US$22.99/month on an annual plan billed monthly, before tax. That's a 12-month commitment, and there's no free plan, only a 7-day free trial. The plan includes Adobe Express Premium. Price checked Oct 25, 2026.
Premiere is Adobe's pro video editor on desktop and mobile. If you edit long projects every week and swap files with other Premiere users, staying may make sense. If you cut social clips, YouTube videos or podcasts, a free editor might do the job. DaVinci Resolve Studio costs about the same as 10 months of Premiere, and then it's yours.
Cheaper doesn't always mean the same. Alternatives can differ in features and quality, so try the free plan before you switch.
Adobe Premiere vs alternatives
| Tool | Free plan | Cheapest paid plan | Cheaper than Adobe Premiere? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Premiere (what you pay now) | No | Premiere: US$34.49/month, or US$22.99/month on a yearly plan (US$275.88/year) | — | professional video editing, mobile editing |
| DaVinci Resolve | Yes | DaVinci Resolve Studio: US$236 one-time | Yes (free version) | professional video editing, color grading |
| CapCut | Yes | Pro: US$19.99/month, or US$15/month on a yearly plan (US$179.99/year) | Yes, US$7.99/month less | short-form video, templates |
| Descript | Yes | Hobbyist: US$24/month, or US$16/month on a yearly plan (US$192/year) | Yes, US$6.99/month less | edit video by editing text, podcast editing |
Paying for more than Adobe Premiere? Tick everything you pay for in the Nerdy Savings calculator, or browse every video editing tool we've priced.
The alternatives
DaVinci Resolve
Professional editing, color and audio software with a very capable free version.
Free plan: Yes: Full free version of DaVinci Resolve; Studio adds extra features.
Paid from: DaVinci Resolve Studio: US$236 one-time
Discounts: Studio currently 20% off: $236, was $295.
Cheaper or similar: CapCut, Microsoft Clipchamp
Checked Nov 1, 2026
CapCut
Free-to-start video editor with templates, captions and effects for social clips.
Free plan: Yes: Free editor available; exact free limits not confirmed on the pricing page.
Paid from: Pro: US$19.99/month, or US$15/month on a yearly plan (US$179.99/year)
Discounts: none listed
Cheaper or similar: Descript, VEED
Some details on this one weren't confirmed on the official pricing page, so we left them blank.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Descript
Edits video and audio by editing the transcript, like a document.
Free plan: Yes: 60 media minutes/month, 720p export, 5 GB storage.
Paid from: Hobbyist: US$24/month, or US$16/month on a yearly plan (US$192/year)
Discounts: Save up to 35% with annual billing; education and nonprofit pricing by application form.
Cheaper or similar: CapCut, VEED, OpusClip · cheaper Descript alternatives
Checked Oct 26, 2026
FAQ
Is there a free version of Adobe Premiere?
No. Adobe Premiere has a 7-day free trial, then costs US$22.99/month on an annual plan billed monthly (price checked Oct 25, 2026).
What's the best free alternative to Adobe Premiere?
DaVinci Resolve. Its free version is a full professional editor with color grading and audio post tools. The paid Studio version adds extra features and is a one-time purchase, currently US$236 on sale (was US$295), price checked Oct 25, 2026.
Is DaVinci Resolve really free?
Yes. Blackmagic Design offers a full free version of DaVinci Resolve. DaVinci Resolve Studio adds extra features for a one-time US$236, currently on sale from US$295, with no subscription (price checked Oct 25, 2026).
Is Descript cheaper than Adobe Premiere?
Not on paid plans billed monthly: Descript Hobbyist is US$24/month, against US$22.99/month for Premiere on an annual plan. Billed yearly, Descript Hobbyist is US$16/month (US$192/year). Descript's free plan includes 60 media minutes a month, 720p exports and 5 GB of storage. Price checked Oct 25, 2026.
Can I cancel Adobe Premiere anytime?
The US$22.99/month price is for an annual plan billed monthly, which is a 12-month commitment. Adobe's plans page didn't show a month-to-month price on Oct 25, 2026, so read the cancellation terms before you sign up.
Sources
- Adobe Premiere plans (US) — price, trial, Adobe Express Premium
- DaVinci Resolve — free version, Studio one-time price
- Descript pricing — free plan limits, Hobbyist price
- CapCut pricing — free editor